Wagner-Peyser Act

(2) Describe how the State will utilize professional development activities for Employment Service staff to ensure staff is able to provide high quality services to both jobseekers and employers.

Under Title III of WIOA, the Wagner-Peyser Act, a greater emphasis is placed on providing services to UI claimants with referrals to additional AJC services. This is in an effort to ensure claimants remain eligible for UI benefits and to provide meaningful assistance in their efforts to regain employment. Labor exchange services, which are the primary services provided under Wagner-Peyser, fall under the basic career services identified in WIOA. Wagner-Peyser staff must use funds authorized by WIOA to provide basic career services.

As a result of increased collaboration, DWDAL and the DUI have enhanced staff training and coordination on policy implementation efforts. The two divisions will continue working to assess Title I and III AJC staff training needs and the Chief Learning Officer will assist with the development and delivery of trainings.

As part of Maryland’s WIOA Alignment Group, the Chief Learning Officer leads the Professional Development and Technical Assistance Committee. The committee is comprised of partners from Maryland’s workforce system and contributes to the creation of professional development and training opportunities for staff across our system. The committee meets monthly to discuss the needs of staff and customers to determine the best method to deliver professional development services. For example, MD Labor has invited partners form across the system to participate in professional development opportunities when space is available.

In October 2019, DWDAL held a three-day reemployment retreat with targeted professional development sessions for approximately 100 Wagner-Peyser and MD Labor central office staff. Topics included utilizing the MWE, resume workshops, and accessibility. Staff from the DUI participated in the event and presented on UI eligibility and referral coordination.

In 2017, the State implemented the Reemployment Exchange module within MWE.  Maryland’s purchase of the REX module allowed the State to establish a single web-based application for both workforce registration and filing of unemployment claims. The common registration function allows for seamless transition between UI and workforce platforms. Integration of the two systems provides a centralized data system and coordinated registration for UI claimants to enter and perform necessary tasks while collecting UI benefits. Upon completion of a UI registration, a Wagner-Peyser registration is automatically created. Rather than seeking the same data elements, requiring the claimant to spend more time on entering and re-entering information into both systems, which is the case currently, the REX module allows for the claimant to focus on what is important: reemployment.

Through the purchase of the REX module, Maryland is more proactive in its reemployment activities. Immediately after an individual files an initial UI claim or a UI weekly certification in REX, the system creates a reemployment roadmap for the individual. Implementing a robust, online system facilitates the sharing of information in real time between the UI benefits system and MWE. This, in turn, ensures proper payments are made and those claimants are actually meeting the goals set for them by the State’s workforce and UI staff. This requires, the continued cross-training between workforce and UI staff.